Door accessory power system
A powered door accessory system generally includes a powered door accessory assembly, a generator, and a power storage device. In an embodiment, the powered door accessory assembly includes an electric drive and a driven member operatively connected to the electric drive. The generator is in electrical communication with the electric drive of the powered door accessory assembly and the power storage device. A method for operating a door accessory assembly is also disclosed.
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Many doors include or cooperate with powered locks and/or powered door latch actuators, both of which can be generically referred to as door accessory assemblies. Powered lock assemblies are used to automatically lock and unlock a door. Powered door latch assemblies are used to automatically move a door latch from a latched condition to an unlatched condition. These powered door accessory assemblies are sometimes battery operated but are typically hard wired and powered by electricity that is also used to power other electrical components for the building to which the door is mounted.
Typically after the door is unlocked or unlatched using one of the aforementioned door accessory assemblies, the door is then opened. Mechanical energy is required to open the door, be it a door mounted on hinges or a sliding door. Energy is also required to close the door. At present there is no means to collect the kinetic energy associated with a moving door and to use this energy to power the aforementioned powered door accessory assemblies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA powered door accessory system generally includes a powered door accessory assembly, a generator, and a power storage device. In an embodiment, the powered door accessory assembly includes an electric drive and a driven member operatively connected to the electric drive. The generator is in electrical communication with the electric drive of the powered door accessory assembly and the power storage device.
A method for operating a door accessory assembly comprises the following steps: driving a driven member between a first position and a second position via an electric drive of a powered door accessory assembly; generating electrical power by moving a member operatively connected to a door; storing the generated electrical power in a power storage device; and delivering at least some of the generated electrical power to the electric drive.
A powered door accessory system will be described with reference to embodiments described below. The powered door accessory system transfers kinetic mechanical energy associated with a moving door into potential electrical energy that can power a powered door accessory assembly.
With reference to
The power storage device 14 includes a capacitor, a battery, and combinations thereof. The power storage device 14 provides electrical power to the electric device 16 in a manner that will be described in more detail below. Also, the power storage device 14 can provide power to other electrical components that are associated with the door accessory system, for example the signal receiver, a light, an electronic eye, etc.
As mentioned above, examples of the door accessory assembly include a door latch actuator 18 (
Another example of a powered door accessory assembly includes a powered door lock 22 (
Each of the aforementioned powered door accessory assemblies, i.e. the powered door latch actuator 18 and the powered door lock 22, includes an electric drive, which can be an electric motor, a solenoid, or a wire made from a material that expands and contracts when a current passes through the wire, that is operably connected to the movable member. For the aforementioned powered door accessory assemblies, the electric drive for each device coincides with the electrical device 16 depicted schematically in
With reference to
With reference back to
In the embodiment depicted in
As mentioned above, the movable member of the generator 12 is operatively connected to the door 24 or 26 so that movement of the door results in movement of a magnet in relation to a coil of wire, or vice versa. With reference to
The automatic door closer 50 includes a biased arm 52 that attaches to the door 24 and a housing 54 that houses components that bias the arm 52 and other components, such as the generator and power storage device, if desired. When the door 24 is opened, a biasing member, for example a hydraulic piston, a pneumatic piston, a spring, etc., biases the arm 52 back to the closed position to automatically close the door 24 after it has opened. The biased arm 52 in the embodiments depicted in
In the depicted embodiment, the generator 12 (
As mentioned above, the generator 12 (
In one embodiment, the coil of wire is disposed in relation to a movable member, which can either be the gear 72 or a member operatively connected to the gear, such that movement of the magnet induces an electrical current and voltage in the coil of wire as the moveable member rotates or moves with respect to the coil of wire. This coil of wire and magnet configuration is not limited to only one coil or magnet and the coil can rotate in proximity to the magnet or any combination thereof. The clutch mechanism and biased moveable member can have a similar configuration to a conventional egg timer, a toy wind-up car or similar device.
With reference to
The rack 88 operatively connects to the magnet or the coil of wire, e.g., via a transmission, such that movement of the door to which the hinge 34 is attached results in movement of the rack 88 which results in movement of the magnet in relation to the coil of wire or vice versa. The rack 88 can also cooperate with a spring and clutch mechanism that was described above with reference to the gear as shown in
With reference to
With reference to
A similar configuration can be provided for a sliding door, for example the sliding door 26 depicted in
Alternatively, the housing, for example housing 70 disclosed in
A door accessory power system and a method for operating a door accessory power system have been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to those upon reading and understanding the detailed description. It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Claims
1. A powered door accessory system comprising:
- a powered door accessory assembly configured to mount to at least one of an associated door and an associated structure adjacent the associated door;
- a generator configured to mount to at least one of the associated door and the associated structure adjacent the associated door and configured to generate an electrical current in response to movement of the associated door, the generator being in electrical communication with the powered door accessory assembly and including a magnet and a coil of wire;
- a power storage device in electrical communication with the generator and the powered door accessory assembly; and
- a movable member configured to connect to the associated door and operably connected with at least one of the magnet and the coil of wire.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered door accessory assembly comprises at least one of a powered door latch actuator, a powered lock assembly, an electric door opener, a push plate actuator, a card reader, an electronic eye, a motion detector and biometric reader.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the generator includes a coil of wire mounted to the associated door and a magnet mounted adjacent the associated door, whereby movement of the associated door results in movement of the coil of wire in relation to the magnet.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the generator includes a magnet mounted to the associated door and a coil of wire mounted adjacent the associated door, whereby movement of the associated door results in movement of the magnet in relation to the coil of wire.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable member comprises at least one of a gear, a sprocket, a shaft, a cam, a plunger, a piston rod, a cable, a pulley, a linkage, an arm and a wheel.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the movable member is operably connected to a biasing member.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the movable member is operably connected to a plurality of gears.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered door accessory assembly comprises an automated door lock configured to mount to the associated door, and the generator being configured to mount to the associated door.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered door accessory assembly comprises an automated door latch actuator configured to mount to or adjacent a door jamb for the associated door and the generator is configured to mount to or adjacent a door jamb for the associated door.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the power storage device comprises a capacitor.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the power storage device comprises a battery.
12. A powered door accessory system comprising:
- a powered door accessory assembly configured to mount to at least one of an associated door and an associated structure adjacent the associated door;
- a coil of wire configured to mount to at least one of the associated door and the associated structure adjacent the associated door, the coil of wire being in electrical communication with the powered door accessory assembly;
- a magnet configured to mount to at least one of the associated door and the associated structure adjacent the associated door, the magnet and the coil of wire cooperating with one another such that movement of the associated door results in movement of the magnet in relation to the coil of wire, or vice versa, whereby an electrical current is developed in the coil of wire; and
- a movable member configured for connection with at least one of the coil of wire and the magnet and the associated door so that the movable member moves through at least a majority of the range of motion for the associated door as the associated door opens and closes.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a power storage device in electrical communication with the coil of wire and the powered door accessory assembly.
14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a switch in electrical communication with the power storage device and the powered door accessory assembly, the switch being configured to control the delivery of power to the powered door accessory assembly from the power storage device.
15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a signal receiver in electrical communication with the switch.
16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a regulator disposed between and in electrical communication with the power storage device and the powered door accessory assembly.
17. A powered door accessory system comprising:
- a powered door accessory assembly configured to mount to at least one of an associated door and an associated structure adjacent the associated door;
- a coil of wire configured to mount to at least one of the associated door and the associated structure adjacent the associated door, the coil of wire being in electrical communication with the powered door accessory assembly;
- a magnet configured to mount to at least one of the associated door and the associated structure adjacent the associated door, the magnet and the coil of wire cooperating with one another such that movement of the associated door results in movement of the magnet in relation to the coil of wire, or vice versa, whereby an electrical current is developed in the coil of wire; wherein the powered door accessory assembly includes an electric drive and a driven member operatively connected to the electric drive, the driven member being configured to cooperate with at least one of a door latch member and a door latch bolt receptacle for the associated door, the driven member being moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, where the driven member is configured to cooperate with the door latch member the driven member being configured such that when the driven member is in the extended position the driven member engages a door latch member for the associated door to displace the door latch member from a door latch receptacle and when the driven member is in the retracted position the driven member is at least partially disposed in the door latch receptacle, and where the driven member is configured to cooperate with the door latch bolt receptacle the driven member being configured such that when the driven member is in the extended position the driven member is at least partially received in the door latch bolt receptacle and when the driven member is in the retracted position the driven member removed from the door latch bolt receptacle.
18. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable member is connected with a door hinge.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the movable member is a sprocket mounted to a pin of the door hinge.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the movable member is a rack attached to a plate of the door hinge.
21. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable member is a wheel that engages the ground.
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Type: Grant
Filed: May 18, 2006
Date of Patent: Apr 21, 2009
Patent Publication Number: 20070268132
Assignee: T.K.M. Unlimited, Inc. (Akron, OH)
Inventor: Thomas K. Milo (Akron, OH)
Primary Examiner: John A Tweel, Jr.
Attorney: Fay Sharpe LLP
Application Number: 11/419,098
International Classification: G08B 13/08 (20060101);